Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe — Restaurant in Phoenix

I was treated rudely, asked very loudly - as if I am a disobedient child "where I am going?"; Just because I did not know where the bathroom was and apparently walked too close to the patio door where a "guest private party" was being prepared ( mind you this is my first time ever stepping foot into this establishment), I at that time advised that I was pointed in that direction by the bartender, who was most likely more interested in dismissing me, rather than directing me.

Then, when I ask for the designated smoking section, I was given a rude look and no response! From the MANAGER! My question was answered by another Patron .

Plus, to add insult to injury, the proverbial icing on the cake, went to tip the bartender, handing her a $10 cash tip on an $18 total bill .....and to my astonishment, her response, while I'm extending the money, in a seemingly disgusted tone, was "What's that?". Ugh, it's a tip - even after all of the poor service, that you didn't earn! Lucky for her I was raised to be better than that, n know how it is to live on tips ; HOWEVER....... that being said, The staff's, the bartender's, and the Management's conduct were less than professional.

Honestly, I would rate zero stars if I could...... A very diluted disgusting drink, but good chips and salsa: Overall it was just an agitating experience served with a large side of unnecessary poor service - forget the money, it's not even worth the headache! So do yourself a favor and keep on driving past it, find yourself somewhere else to eat! Shoot, the Five & Diner from ancient times, located just around the corner, is better - on its worst day - than that godforsaken place!

FYI, I also overheard TWO other couples , as they were exiting the restaurant (while I was smoking in the designated area I finally found,lol) say "this was just another bad experience" and that they "could not wait to catch the attention of the staff so that they could pay then leave". As mentioned, I have never been here before & won't come back or recommend it because frankly it's disappointing ● adding here that I'm a phoenix native......

Looks can be deceiving folks! Ajo Al's looks very nice on the outside but the way people act makes it ugly on the inside. Fugly.... oh can't forget to comment on cleanliness...everything was sticky & actually pretty dirty at the bathroom & bar, the menu was so sticky I could almost not even open it - which is why I didn't order food: that seemed like a feat only the brave should attempt,...

On 9.25.23 my gf and I came in for lunch (on our 60 min lunch break at work, relevant I promise). We had both received an email offer stating it was half-off Quesadillas because it was National Quesadillas Day. When we arrived at 11:40 AM, there was absolutely no one by the podium where you wait to get seated. They were slow, they were. We literally waited for 5 minutes (that's a long-time standing waiting to get acknowledged) until 11:45 when a customer at the bar told us, someone will be right with you. The manager (Danny I believe) sees us as he is taking food to a table and sits us after he delivered his food. Thanks Danny. We get seated in Nathan's section. Since we are in a hurry now because we had to wait longer than anticipated to get seated, and we knew what we were there for (half-off Quesadillas), as soon as Nathan started with the drink orders, we said we know what we want, and we are ready to order and would like it for to-go now since we didn't have the luxury of dinning-in anymore. Nathan proceeded to inform us that the half-off Quesadillas special is one per table... I was caught off guard since we both had received that offer because we are Royalty Rewards members. No where on the offer does it state it is one per table. As a matter of fact, it says for dine-in or carry out so how can you regulate that? So, my gf got a steak Quesadillas, and I didn't get anything. Didn't even have an appetite at this point. I asked Nathan well can I sit at a different table than my girlfriend so I can take advantage of the offer since it's "one per table" and he said, "Now you're pushing it..." I'm pushing it? No Nathan, I'm not. You are actually. To the point where I felt ambitious enough to leave this review. The fact that we had to wait to get acknowledged, and your inability to work with a customer is "pushing it" my friend. Especially when at the end of my experience, I delegate gratuity. When my gf got her food, I asked Nathan if I could place a carry out order for the Quesadillas since the email offer clearly states, for carry out or dine-in. Nathan said, "you'll have to ask my manager." It was clear that he just didn't want to help me, so I didn't even bother...

⭐ The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly at Ajo Al’s Mexican Cafe – 16th & Camelback, Phoenix ⭐

The Good: Once I made it to the bar area, things turned around quickly. Kamilia, the bartender, was excellent — polite, friendly, and professional. I was immediately served water, chips, and salsa, which made for a great start. The restaurant itself was clean, well-organized, and had a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.

The Blood Orange Margarita is a standout — flavorful, balanced, with a hint of cinnamon and a tajín rim that ties it all together. My friend ordered the green chili tamale, and I had the beef tamale from the "Al"-A-Carte section. Both were flavorful, nicely seasoned, and though small, they were filling — just right for a light bite at the bar.

The Bad: My visit started with a small misunderstanding at the door. A guest walked in just ahead of me, and the host mistakenly assumed we were together, walking away before I could clarify. It wasn’t a major issue, but as a first-time guest, it was a little awkward. A quick “Are you together or separate?” would’ve solved that easily.

The chips also seemed like they might’ve been from the previous day — not terrible, but freshly made chips would really elevate the first impression.

The Ugly: Honestly, not much ugly to report — just those two small hiccups.

Bonus Points: I mentioned the entry mix-up to the manager, Slade, who handled it very well — professional, tactful, and genuinely understanding. That kind of management response goes a long way.

Final Thoughts: Every restaurant has its small stumbles, but how they handle them makes all the difference — and Ajo Al’s did great in that regard. Between Kamilia's excellent service, Slade’s professionalism, and the quality of the drinks and food, I’ll definitely be back.

🌮 Verdict: A few easy fixes away from perfect. Great atmosphere, great people, and great flavors —...